The prospective new chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission has signalled that she will focus on what more can be done to encourage a broader range of people to seek a career in the judiciary.

Helen Pitcher OBE, the government’s nominated candidate to lead the commission, was quizzed extensively on diversity concerns by the House of Commons justice select committee as part of a pre-appointment hearing yesterday.

Solicitor Maria Eagle MP asked Pitcher about the prospect of achieving greater diversity.

Pitcher replied: ‘I have seen the statistics. There have been improvements. The question is, are they fast enough? And the question is also, does the pipeline exist for the pool to draw people from? And I know the JAC has a strong role in supporting the development of that pool and does so through the Judicial Diversity Forum, outreach work and so on.’

The committee heard that Pitcher was commended by the lord chancellor for increasing diversity in appointments during her time as chair of the Queen’s Counsel Selection Panel.

Eagle pointed out that diversity progress within the judiciary has been glacial, highlighting that the proportion of black judges has remained at 1% since 2014.

Asked how she improved diversity during her time at the selection panel, Pitcher said: ‘At the end of the day, QC selection could only select from the people who applied. That’s something that starts, and it will be the same with the JAC, it starts pre the process. How do you get access to a broader pool to basically convince them this is an area they might be interested or something they might be interested in pursuing? Silk is an interesting one because you have to have earnt a certain amount of money before you can apply for silk because you know your income will drop like a stone initially. That has an impact on the age of people who apply. And it can have an impact on diversity.’

Pitcher added: ‘There is a lot to be done to encourage a broader range of people to apply. There can be a tendency to recruit in your own image. I saw it through my commercial career from time to time. In my Grand Metropolitan days I was one of only four women out of the senior management cadre. So, you were very goldfish-bowled and that’s actually an uncomfortable place to be sometimes. So, broadening the pool is really key. Demystify what the roles are is also key.’

On the proportion of judges with a non-barrister background, Pitcher said she wanted to understand the reasons why people do and do not put themselves forward.

On the statutory consultation process, which the Law Society wants abolished, Pitcher said: ‘I think it can be enormously helpful providing the information the JAC receives is evidence based.’

1230 update: The justice committee has endorsed Helen Pitcher's appointment. 

 

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